Protective sleeve for chairs

ABSTRACT

Decorative sleeve means for protectively covering the radial leg portions of the base of a swivel-type chair, characterized in that the sleeve means are provided at one end with fringe means that conceal the extremity of the leg portion and protect an occupant against damage thereby. Preferably the sleeve means comprises a tubular body consisting of a stretch fabric formed of a synthetic fiber. At least one end of the sleeve is provided with a resilient portion of reduced diameter adapted to tightly engage the leg portion upon which the sleeve is mounted.

United States Patent Kim [54] PROTECTIVE SLEEVE FOR CHAIRS [72] Inventor: Bernice V. Kim, 1600 S. Eads, #215 South, Arlington, Va. 22202 [22] Filed: May 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.1 34,659

[52] US.C1.... ..2A8/345 1 [51] lnt.Cl. [S8] FieldofSearch ..248/345.1,188.7,188.8; 38/140; 16/18 CG; 2/52; 297/227 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 693,115 2/1902 Cozzens ..2/62 X 2,471,958 5/1949 I-Iumphreys.... ....l6/l8 CG 1,804,841 5/1931 Pedroli ..248/345.1

[ Feb. 22, 1972 2,217,754 10/1940 Johnson ..248/345.1X 2,326,422 8/1943 Weisberger ..2/59

Primary ExaminerChancellor E. Harris AttorneyScrivener, Parker, Scrivener and Clarke ABSTRACT Decorative sleeve means for protectively covering the radial leg portions of the base of a swivel-type chair. characterized in that the sleeve means are provided at one end with fringe means that conceal the extremity of the leg portion and protect an occupant against damage thereby. Preferably the sleeve means comprises a tubular body consisting of a stretch fabric formed of a synthetic fiber. At least one end of the sleeve is provided with a resilient portion of reduced diameter adapted to tightly engage the leg portion upon which the sleeve is mounted.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEBFEB22 I972 3. 643 905 INVENTOR banmos V. KINT ATTORNEYS f n/11w dmwwm PROTECTIVE SLEEVE FOR CHAIRS During normal office or home use of chairs of the swivel type including a base having a plurality of radially extending generally horizontal legs, users scuff and sear their shoes during normal use and, more frequently, when they turn the chair about its vertical axis. Although the leg portionswhich are generally formed from wood, metal or plastic-are normally machined or otherwise finished to afford a smooth surface, quite often minute burrs or other surface imperfections are formed which are of sufficient size to cause an unsightly scratch or cut in the users shoes. Furthermore, the base is generally provided at the extremities of the leg portions with roller means that support the chair for rolling transport, which roller means occasionally have surface imperfections and irregularities that cause inadvertent scratching, cutting or other damage.

The present invention was developed to provide means for alleviating the above and similar problems inherent in swiveltype chairs, and to afford a protective sleeve body that not only affords a unique decorative appearance, but also serves to protect an occupant from damage by the leg portions of the chair base.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a flexible sleeve including a tubular body portion that is preferably formed of a stretch fabric and includes at one end a fringe portion for concealing and protecting the roller-supporting extremity of a chair leg.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a protectivc sleeve of the type described above, said sleeve having at the end remote from the fringe end a resilient portion of reduced diameter that tightly and yieldingly engages the leg portion to prevent undesirable axial displacement of the sleeve relative thereto. If desired, the fringe end of the sleeve may also be provided with a similar resilient portion of reduced diameter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when, viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the protective sleeve means of the present invention are mounted on the leg portions of the base of a swivel-type chair;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the protective sleeve means; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring first to FIG. I, the chair is of the swivel type including a upper part 2 having seat, back and arm portions 4, 6 and 8, respectively, and a rotatably connected lower or base part 10 having a plurality of radially extending generally horizontal leg portions 10a that are provided at their extremities with conventional rollers 12.

In accordance with the present invention, protective sleeve means 14 are provided that are adapted for concentric mounting upon the leg portions 1011 as shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each protective sleeve includes a tubular flexible body 16 that is formed of a stretch fabric (preferably consisting of synthetic fibers), said sleeve including at one end integral fringe strands 16a of a length to at least partially conceal and protectively cover the associated roller 12. In order to assure that the sleeve is positively retained on the chair leg portion, the sleeve is provided at one end with a resilient portion of reduced diameter l6b. If desired, the end adjacent the fringe may similarly be provided with a resilient portion of reduced diameter I60. The sleeve may be given a decorative color and/or design, as desired.

To apply the sleeve to the chair, the resilient end 16!) is manually expanded and slipped onto the free extremity of the leg portion 10a, whereupon the sleeve is slid into the leg to the position illustrated in FIG. I. The tubular body 16 affords protection to the occupants stocking, and the fringe strands 16a conceal the rollers and protect the occupant from injury thereby. It is apparent that the length of the sleeve generally equals the length of the leg portion 10a.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, the preferred form and embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it WIII be apparent that changes may be made without deviating from the inventive concept.

I claim:

I. A protective sleeve adapted for use with a swizel-type chair having a base including a plurality of generally horizontal radial leg portions provided at their extremities with rollers, including a tubular flexible decorative body (16) having an internal diameter and length corresponding generally with the outer diameter and length of one of said radial leg portions;

said body including at each end a resilient radially inwardly biased portion of reduced diameter (16b, 16c) arranged to tightly engage said radial leg portion when said body is mounted concentrically thereabout;

said body further including at the end adjacent the free extremity of said radial leg portion a plurality of integrally connected circumferentially arranged fringe strands (16a) of a length to cover the free extremity of said base leg portion and the associated roller, whereby the extremity of said base leg portion is both concealed and protectively covered by said fringe strands.

2. A protective sleeve as defined in claim I, wherein said tubular body comprises a stretch fabric including filaments formed of a synthetic plastic fiber.

* FIK 

1. A protective sleeve adapted for use with a swizel-type chair having a base including a plurality of generally horizontal radial leg portions provided at their extremities with rollers, including a tubular flexible decorative body (16) having an internal diameter and length corresponding generally with the outer diameter and length of one of said radial leg portions; said body including at each end a resilient radially inwardly biased portion of reduced diameter (16b, 16c) arranged to tightly engage said radial leg portion when said body is mounted concentrically thereabout; said body further including at the end adjacent the free extremity of said radial leg portion a plurality of integrally connected circumferentially arranged fringe strands (16a) of a length to cover the free extremity of said base leg portion and the associated roller, whereby the extremity of said base leg portion is both concealed and protectively covered by said fringe strands.
 2. A protective sleeve as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular body comprises a stretch fabric including filaments formed of a synthetic plastic fiber. 